STORY:
Millennium Champagne At $14,000 A Bottle

Moet & Chandon making only 323 magnums of vintage blend

The demand for bottles of special millennium champagne has been very high and now one of France's most famous producers is taking advantage of the demand. Moet & Chandon is combining 11 of this century's top vintages to create a one-of-a-kind champagne to usher in the new millennium.

If you want one, you'll need lots of cash and some patience to find one. The world famous champagne maker of 250 years is making only 323 magnums of what its calling "Esprit du Siecle"-which means spirit of the century. Each bottle will cost about $14,000.

The champagne maker describes the wine as "the ultimate blend, not simply the sum of singular moments of the century, but its very quintessence. Calling on contemporary expertise, Esprit du Siecle interprets and magnifies the century, while remaining true to its character. The champagne is alive and each of its component vintages holds infinite memory and promise."

Esprit du Siecle is a blending of vintages that has never been attempted. The years represent a cross section of the century: 1900, 1914, 1921, 1934, 1943, 1952, 1962, 1976, 1983, 1985 and 1995.

Usually champagne is made by combining several wines and letting them age. With the millennium champagne, the winemaker reportedly says it was a challenge to combine several wines that are already sparkling and give it a second bubble.

Champagne producers are capitalizing on the millennium momentium but increasetheir prices. Moet & Chandon is also issuing a special millennium three-litre bottle of it's popular Dom Perignon champagne that would go for about $1,400 a piece.

Source: The Vancouver Sun

DATE: 8/11/99

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